There is nothing wrong with enjoying what you have worked for. There is no need to feel guilty when you celebrate and feast. It is not bad to spend your hard-earned money on clothing for yourself. This is not the sin of the rich man. The sin of the rich man is withholding acts of charity and mercy from the poor man, Lazarus, who lay right at his gate, hungry and sore-ridden.
The Hebrew concept of tzedakah encompasses righteous giving and acts of kindness aimed at assisting people in need. So even though this parable takes place in a Jewish setting, as a Jew attending synagogue or the Temple, the rich man would have been familiar with readings from the Torah and other Scriptures about being charitable and merciful to the less fortunate.
It is easy for us to judge the rich man. As Christians, we are familiar with the corporal acts of mercy, which include feeding the hungry, giving drinks to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, caring for the sick, visiting the imprisoned, and burying the dead.
How often do we not dismiss or pull a face at a smelly beggar with sores, ignore an often-silent plea for financial assistance from a
family member, or visit a sick or bedridden person? The list of places we could provide an act of charity or mercy goes on and on
Am I mindful of those in need who cross my path?
Do I respond with sincere compassion to a person in need?
Reflections by Adri Sutherland
